Coral Reef Restoration: A Guide to Coral Restoration Methods

The United Nations has initiated the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, marked by the release of a report on Coral Reef Restoration.

Co-sponsored by several global environmental organizations, the report underlines the vital importance of coral reefs, hosting 25% of marine biodiversity and serving up to a billion people.

Despite their significance, coral reefs face extreme vulnerability to climate change, with up to 90% predicted loss by 2050 if warming is limited to 1.5°C.

The report emphasizes the urgent need to enhance coral reef resilience, proposing well-structured, sustained restoration to achieve this.

It suggests the following four principles:

1. Establishing specific objectives
2. Adopting adaptive strategies to control risks
3. Involving local stakeholders at every stage
4. Setting up long-term monitoring plans for improved understanding and adaptive management.